Thursday, July 17, 2008

Moussaka!

Before reading the Veganomicon, I'd never even heard of moussaka. But for some reason, the Eggplant Potato Moussaka with Pine Nut Cream kept calling, "make me! make me!" I'm pretty sure it was the idea of Pine Nut Cream that had me at hello.

Warning: You're about to see an ugly photo of a delicious dish. There's really no way to make this dish pretty. But trust me, it's freakin' delicious.

In a casserole dish, you layer eggplant, potato, and zucchini slices (I used half zucchini/half summer squash because I had some squash that needed to be cooked). A cinnamon-spiked tomato sauce goes between a couple layers, followed by homemade whole wheat breadcrumbs (the Vcon calls for white bread crumbs, but I think that's crazy).

Finally, the layers are topped with a succulent, velvet-y pine nut cream made from silk tofu, pine nuts, garlic, and some other stuff. It's a little like tofu ricotta but way better. In fact, I might make the pine nut cream to use in a vegan lasagna dish sometime.

In case you're wondering, Wikipedia says the traditional Greek version consists of red meat or lamb (icky-poo!), eggplant, tomatoes, and a white sauce. I'd trade potatoes and squash for red meat any day!

The first time I ever had moussaka, The Brit's aunt made a veggie (lacto) version - it was so awesome. She used to live in Israel and she makes the best veggie food. Now I want moussaka. I need to make this... as soon as I get my new oven!

I was practically RAISED on Moussaka, haha - one of my family's great friends is Greek, and she always made Moussaka when we went to her home :0) I've never had a vegan version of it, so now I'm intrigued!

I love Moussaka! I haven't even found a vegetarian one to try around here. I am so going to make this dish. Your picture isn't bad at all. It looks delectable. Mmmmmmm, Moussaka. Eggplant, good. Pine Nut Cream, good. Veggie, gooooood.

I have been itching to make this since I got Vcon!! It just looks like it makes a huge amount, and we're such gluttons, I know we'd eat it all rather than freeze it...so I'm waiting to invite some friends over to feast with us... but my mouth is watering!!

i have never had moussaka - it's fun to say - and i think yours looks yummah! i totally want to make my own and put it in my face! ohhhhh man - that's super stellar! i'm going to check out that vcon recipe and see if i can make it sometime soon with all of these veggies that are popping up everywhere. what a great way to use up some summertime veg! superw00t!

I think it is an immutable law of the kitchen that the uglier a food is the better it tastes. It always seems like the food that I rave about the most cannot take a pretty picture. So, I understand exactly what you are talking about, although I have to admit, that picture is not ugly, it's gorgeous! I have never even considered making moussaka....now I think I have to!

Hi. I love your blog and I just created one of my own, so I was wondering if I could add you to the blogroll thing I'm going to make soon? I was just going to start adding people, but I didn't want to seem like a vegan stalker girl, so I figured I'd at least say hello first :)

My name is Bianca ...

About Me

I'm a 9-year vegan, 19-year vegetarian from the Mid-South, not too far from the muddy banks of the Mississippi River. And that means cornbread, butter beans, and collard greens.
These days, I live in Memphis. Check out my cookbook — Cookin' Crunk. It's filled with yummilicious veganized soul food and country classics.